Nuri rocket set for 5th launch to place 15 satellites into orbit

Korea's homegrown Nuri rocket is set for its fifth launch Wednesday, carrying 15 satellites, including five that will form part of the country's first domestically launched microsatellite constellation. The three-stage rocket is scheduled to lift off from the Naro Space Center in Goheung, about 400 kilometers south of Seoul, at 12:25 p.m., Oh Tae-seok, administrator of the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA), said. Oh said the rocket is technically ready for launch, with weather and space conditions also favorable and no concerns over potential collisions with space objects, allowing the launch to proceed as scheduled. The payload consists of five New-space Earth Observation Satellite Constellation for National Safety (NEONSAT) microsatellites and 10 CubeSats. About four hours before liftoff, the launch team will begin filling the three-stage rocket with kerosene fuel and liquid oxygen oxidizer after completing system checks. Nuri's first and second stages will separate about 123 and 268 seconds after liftoff, respectively, with satellite deployment beginning between 810 and 960 seconds